Protecting Those Who Protect Us: Free Prostate Cancer Screenings for St. Louis First Responders

Overview: On Saturday, September 19, 2026, The Empowerment Network and the City of Moline Acres Police Department will host the “Give Me 10!” First Responders Health Fair at Central Middle School in St. Louis. Running from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, the free clinic provides police, firefighters, EMS personnel, and their families with quick 10-minute PSA blood tests, metabolic checks, and medical consultations backed by major regional partners including Siteman Cancer Center, WashU Medicine, and BJC HealthCare.

The Empowerment Network and Moline Acres Police team up with regional health leaders to deliver free, ten-minute PSA tests for local first responders and their families.

When you spend your life on call, running toward crises, your own health usually takes a back seat. Shift work, adrenaline, and round-the-clock schedules leave little room for routine doctor visits.

This September, a coalition of local leaders and regional medical institutions is removing the friction.

As part of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, The Empowerment Network has teamed up with the City of Moline Acres Police Department to launch the “Give Me 10!” First Responders Health Fair and Prostate Cancer Screening. It stands as possibly the first targeted initiative of its kind in the bi-state area.

The invitation is open to police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and their families from St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles, Jefferson County, and surrounding communities.

Date, Time, and Location

Clear your calendar for Saturday, September 19, 2026. The clinic runs from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

• Location: Central Middle School
• Address: 9800 Patricia Barkalow Drive, St. Louis, MO 63137

The core ask is straightforward: give the team ten minutes of your Saturday. A fast, free PSA blood draw can catch warning signs years before symptoms ever show up.

What to Expect on Site

You do not need insurance, and you do not need hours of free time. The clinic is structured for speed, privacy, and thorough follow-through.

Services include:

• Free PSA Blood Screenings: A simple blood draw completed in about ten minutes.
• Metabolic Testing: Quick markers to assess cardiovascular and metabolic baseline health.
• Direct Consultations: Face-to-face health education with local clinical specialists.
• Family Wellness Resources: Support materials and contacts tailored to first-responder households.

Why Early Detection Matters

Prostate cancer remains the second most common cancer diagnosed in American men, trailing only skin cancer. Roughly 1 in 8 men will receive a diagnosis during their lifetime.

The numbers demand even closer attention across our community. For Black men, that risk climbs to 1 in 6, accompanied by a mortality rate nearly double that of other populations. When you add the chronic sleep disruption, stress, and environmental exposures tied to first-responder careers, preventative screenings become non-negotiable.

Early detection turns an otherwise dangerous diagnosis into a manageable, highly treatable condition.

Regional Healthcare Heavyweights Back the Effort

A public health initiative only works when the follow-up care is real. The “Give Me 10!” campaign brings together some of the most respected medical organizations across the region:

• American Cancer Society
• Home State Health
• Affinia Healthcare
• Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities (PECaD)
• Siteman Cancer Center
• WashU Medicine
• BJC HealthCare

Taking care of your squad and your family starts with staying in the fight. Show up on September 19, take the ten minutes, and get the data you need to protect your future.

#FirstRespondersHealth #ProstateCancerAwareness #STLHealth